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Funding Restored For LGBT Center's HIV and STD Testing Following Public Pressure
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The Los Angeles LGBT Center and LA County’s Department of Public Health reached a temporary agreement on Tuesday to restore funding for the center’s free STD and HIV testing program.
On Monday, the center announced that the county was going to cut funding that covers the laboratory fees to process the STD and HIV tests. As part of its public announcement, the LGBT Center encouraged community members to contact their local county supervisor and the DPH to urge them to restore funding.
By Tuesday morning, the LGBT Center announced that it had reached an agreement with the Department of Public Health to restore funding through March.
“With these parameters we can keep the funding going as needed to continue and give us some time to clear negotiations,” LGBT Center co-director Dr. Ward Carpenter said.
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LAist has reached out to the Department of Public Health for comment and we'll update the story when we hear back.
In recent years, L.A. County has seen record high numbers for STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
GO DEEPER:
Long Beach Has Alarmingly High Rates Of HIV And Other STDs
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Data (California Department of Public Health)
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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